St. Louis Signs Wade Redden [1 Year/$800,000]

I think Hitchcock just wants more discipline out of Cole, as it is vital to his style of play. Big or flashy hits don't mean anything to Hitch, and positioning means everything. I think Cole will get that, and I have full faith, it just has to be more consistent. In a sprint of a season, we can't really put all our faith into the possibility that Cole gets more consistent right away.

Yeah I don't get the Cole hate either, most d men do take longer to develop. Redden is depth, which is not bad to have with the upcoming schedule but I don't think he was brought in because Cole looked bad. We shall see I guess but I'm thinking Cole is better suited for the NHL than Redden at this point.

I want Cole to be the missing piece on defense. Then we would be set. I haven't seen enough out of him to be able to say that he isn't. But based on the way the Blues are handling him, it doesn't appear to me that they view him with that high of upside anymore. He was drafted in the first round 6 years ago. He was drafted a couple spots away from Ryan McDonagh and Kevin Shattenkirk. PK Subban was drafted in the next round. Carl Gunnarsson was drafted in the 7th round that year. He should be making a significant contribution to the club by now. But they seem reluctant to thrust him into a significant role. Why do you think that is? Players' primes these days are from 25-30. He'll turn 24 next month. If he doesn't take a major step in the next year, he's probably not going to. I hope I am wrong about Cole, but I'm pretty sure I'm right. He's probably not going to amount to anything more than a bottom pairing defenseman in the NHL. He has all the physical tools, but I sense that his hockey sense or discipline is lacking.

Yeah I don't get the Cole hate either, most d men do take longer to develop. Redden is depth, which is not bad to have with the upcoming schedule but I don't think he was brought in because Cole looked bad. We shall see I guess but I'm thinking Cole is better suited for the NHL than Redden at this point.

It's not hate, it's more concern over his development. I know that defensemen take longer to develop, but not this long in the current NHL. He's 6 years away from being drafted in the first round. He turns 24 next month. Most players enter their prime at 25. After this year, he only has 3 more until UFA. He needs to be ready by now, and I don't think the Blues think he is. I hope I'm wrong.

Its a pro-rated $5M. Its $3M and change. He got $1M as a signing bonus. $4M. Pro-rate it. Its $2M and change.

Redden will get the $3,333,333 spread out over 2 years.

He will be making over 4 mil this season. The prorated money from the rangers comes out to about 2.9 mil the signing bonus is not prorated that was paid under the old CBA. Then from the Blues he gets a prorated 800k which comes out to about 464k. So this year he will be making 4.364 Million. The next 2 seasons the rangers owe him 1.667 mil each year which will not be prorated plus whatever another team wants to pay him.

Great, great signing by St. Louis. I've not been sold on the Blues hype this season, everyone seems to love them but I'm not convinced. This, though, tells me that that's a smart organization they have there. Veteran d-man with something to prove + very affordable contract + Hitchcock is nothing but gravy. I don't think we've heard the last of Wade Redden, he's gonna be this season's Zidlicky.

Or it could be the other option in this scenario: Wade Redden is a depth signing due to the condensed schedule, just as Colin White would've been had he made the team.

Cola and Huskins were last year, obviously much before Cole was expected to have a locked-in spot on the roster.

Except that Cole was given every chance to lock it down last year.
We gave Cole 4 different stints as Pietrangelo's partner(2 of them extended over 5 games) and he simply couldn't handle it. Colaiacovo was the more effective player in that role, and Cola was not overly effective last year.

Look; I actually like Cole. I'd have rather let Jackman walk and given that spot to Cole. But that didn't happen. We need to deal with the reality of Hitchcocks team; and the way things look right now Cole is either sitting or sent back down. Personally; I'd prefer he get sent back down with a specific set of goals to achieve. I don't like the thought of him being relegated to "7th man" status.

Except that Cole was given every chance to lock it down last year.
We gave Cole 4 different stints as Pietrangelo's partner(2 of them extended over 5 games) and he simply couldn't handle it. Colaiacovo was the more effective player in that role, and Cola was not overly effective last year.

Look; I actually like Cole. I'd have rather let Jackman walk and given that spot to Cole. But that didn't happen. We need to deal with the reality of Hitchcocks team; and the way things look right now Cole is either sitting or sent back down. Personally; I'd prefer he get sent back down with a specific set of goals to achieve. I don't like the thought of him being relegated to "7th man" status.

You seem to be the only Blues fan here that thinks that's "the reality"

No he's not the only one. Jackman and Russell are in for sure, and Wade Redden didn't choose St. Louis to not have at least a chance of playing every night. Cole needs to step his game up or he'll be sitting in the press box.